Webb started and played poorly in the playoff loss to the Packers and there’s been talk in the past about moving him to wide receiver in hopes of benefitting from his athleticism, but coach Leslie Frazier said Wednesday that wasn’t in the cards this offseason. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reports that Frazier said the team doesn’t plan to look at Webb at another position in the coming months.

It doesn’t sound like they plan to part ways with him either. Frazier said that he would like to bring four quarterbacks to camp this summer, which is the same number that the Vikings have right now. Barring a change, that would leave Webb and McLeod Bethel-Thompson to battle for the third spot.

That wouldn’t seem to bode well for Webb, whose skills don’t mesh all that well with an offense built around Ponder and Cassel if the Vikings still think of him strictly as a quarterback.

Why don’t the Vikings use him for a read option a couple times a game? With AP’s speed and power, an offensive line that’s really solid in the run, and Webb’s speed and athleticism, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

I thought Webb looked a lot more poised than Ponder during the Viking playoff meltdown against the vastly superior 13 time World Champion Green Bay Packers.
_____

Actually, Ponder didn’t play in that game. He played the week before and beat your team. The only reason the game was close was because Greg Jennings had a great game. Good luck this season.

vikes8480 says:Mar 20, 2013 1:12 PM

filthymcnasty1,

Yeah, I don’t know why anyone would even try to compete with such a great, storied franchise with such modest fans. The Packers are the class of the NFL. They should just award the Lombardi trophy to them every year.

You should just take the rest of the day off, you deserve it for being such a great fan of such a great franchise. All fans of the other 31 teams are so envious of you and we are so glad that you bless us with your presence in the comment area of articles on PFT.

purpblooded says:Mar 20, 2013 1:15 PM

Lucky for the Packers that Ponder didn’t play, they got to see how inferior they are to the Niners! It’s only going to get worse in GB when they pay Shaaron and Fathead, and can’t afford any improvements.

purpwalk says:Mar 20, 2013 1:15 PM

filthymctroll only posts for a reaction

Carl Gerbschmidt says:Mar 20, 2013 1:22 PM

Rick Spielman is a Magician says:Mar 20, 2013 1:11 PM

filthymcnasty1 says:Mar 20, 2013 12:44 PM

I thought Webb looked a lot more poised than Ponder during the Viking playoff meltdown against the vastly superior 13 time World Champion Green Bay Packers.
_____

Actually, Ponder didn’t play in that game. He played the week before and beat your team. The only reason the game was close was because Greg Jennings had a great game. Good luck this season.

—-

Not even his old coach wanted him down in Miami. Think about that for a little bit.

Thanks for helping him out with his retirement (that’s the only reason he’s in minny). On the plus side, he’s a great guy, so he’ll still be smiling after Ponder throws a couple in the dirt his way, unlike Percy who liked to scream at everybody. So, that’s an upgrade right there.

jrmbadger says:Mar 20, 2013 1:27 PM

Joe Webb has no business being an NFL Quarterback. To say he played “poorly” in the playoff game is an understatement.

I was at that game and at one point the crowd openly LAUGHED at one of his throws.

I really didn’t think joe Webb was all that bad!! You can’t really blame him for that playoff game it was a rough environment and he flat out wasn’t ready.. But I saw a few sparks from him.. The dude definitely needs a lot of work, but he could have up site in the league if he works on his reads and passing game.. Idk just a thought GO NINERS

domezo says:
Mar 20, 2013 12:51 PM
Why don’t the Vikings use him for a read option a couple times a game? With AP’s speed and power, an offensive line that’s really solid in the run, and Webb’s speed and athleticism, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

Because we are not a read option offense. That would require 2 game plans. Learning 2 sets of different plays… and would mean that you wouldn’t be getting enough practice of either during the week before games. Ponder and Webb or Cassel and Webb or MBT and Webb are 2 different types of QBs. It doesn’t make sense to try and run 2 different types of offenses. It would be great if we could “platoon” our Qb’s (which is what you what to do) but with all of the young players we have on our offense it would just be better to get rid of Webb. Which after he fails to earn a spot as a QB we will do. We are just keeping Webb so that nobody else can develop him and use him against us.

At very least let Webb return a few kicks. His open field talent is obvious! Put him back there along side another KR. Line him up wide but don’t throw to him. Put him in the backfield. He has too much physical talent going to waste!

He can’t run a route or catch a ball, so that is why he isn’t being used as a TE or WR. They tried to change his position in college to WR and he sucked. The Vikes tried and he sucked. Just because he is athletic doesn’t mean anything. I’ve already said it but we are likely letting him “rot on the bench” because we’ve hit a wall with his development and we don’t want anybody else to scoop him up and turn him into a weapon to use against us.

Why don’t the Vikings use him for a read option a couple times a game? With AP’s speed and power, an offensive line that’s really solid in the run, and Webb’s speed and athleticism, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

—————————-

The problem is that if you don’t also present the threat of a pass, teams can sell out on the run and will stop it every time. Running “a read option a couple times a game” is precisely what the Jets did with Tim Tebow to no avail, mainly because the opposition knew that if he checked in it was going to be a QB run.

The big reason Griffin, Kaepernick, and eventually Wilson had the success they did running the read option was because they also made plays in the passing game. If a defense sees Joe Webb check in for one play every 15 or so, I don’t think they’re going to be too worried. In fact, they’d probably welcome it.

Lesson to be learned….don’t try force a player to be who he is not. For Webb it was always a long-shot that he would make it as a QB. The Vikings just were fooled by his raw athleticism. Production should always beat out potential. Chances are a QB will be drafted and Webb will be the odd man out.

filthymcnasty1 says:
Mar 20, 2013 2:06 PM
Say but you will about Joe Webb, but he never tapped out of a playoff game over a bruise on his arm.

Did you see that arm?…He couldn’t straighten it, was he to “shot-put” every pass att?? Nice try though😉

brobokil says:Mar 20, 2013 2:32 PM

Ajb is right. But i dont recall ever thinking webb sucked at wide receiver. He simply hasnt been tried enough at the position. If we gave him the chance to do it full time, with his skillset and the way he runs, hes basically percy harvin!

Of course we havent seen nearly enough to know how he would compare. But percys best plays were ALWAYS roundabout runs or passfakes dumped to percy to rush the corner. Percy would make it there becore defense because of his speed. Webb would be AWESOME with yards after catch if we also used him as a hyrid receiver/runningback. Defenses could barely ever tackle the guy.

Side note, i really wanna see bethel thompson start some games. Not specificslly over ponder, but i think he has crazy potential and id like to see how good he can get.

People need to shut it on Webb. The guy didn’t start in over two years and didn’t find out he was going to start in a playoff game vs GB until two hours before the game began. Of course he was going to look horrible. What did anyone expect? For him to go out there and play lights out?

Not even his old coach wanted him down in Miami. Think about that for a little bit.
_______

I’ve thought about it. It occurs to me that the Packers offered him at least $8 million, so I guess they wanted him.

jrmbadger says:Mar 20, 2013 3:08 PM

jh500 says: Mar 20, 2013 2:37 PM

People need to shut it on Webb. The guy didn’t start in over two years and didn’t find out he was going to start in a playoff game vs GB until two hours before the game began. Of course he was going to look horrible. What did anyone expect? For him to go out there and play lights out?
====================================

Isn’t that the job of a backup QB? To fill in for the regular starter at a moments notice and do at minimum a serviceable job? What’s the point of a backup that needs more than a week to prepare?

The stupidity of Minnesota sports and their quarterbacks. It’s the same thing as marquis gray, the gopher quarterback. He never, ever had a chance of becoming a pro qb, and he should have been out at WR from the start, just like Webb should have been for the Vikings. Gray was a wr for one season, and was very good, but nooooooooo cant have him stay there, gotta out him at qb like terrell pryor. because pryor is having a great career isnt he? Only now is gray realizing he has no chance of being a pro qb, so he is opting to play WR at the nfl level. For god sakes, who are these fools telling these kinds of athletes they can play qb? That is hurting their futures! Whoever thought gray and Webb had futures playing qb really, really should never judge a qb ever again. I could have told you after one series those two had no chance at qb, especially gray. Dude can’t throw!!!! Webb clearly can’t throw.

Vikings: play Webb at receiver or kick returner, or cut him and let another team harness his athletic freak ability. Atleast gray is wising up. He has star potential at WR because of his size.

jonstump says:Mar 20, 2013 3:28 PM

The Vikings “intent” is to bring four qb’s to camp.
The Vikings “reality” is to pump up Webb’s trade value going into the draft.

Too bad, the guy has a strong arm and runs like a deer, but can’t hit the broad sign of a barn half the time.

He’s worth half a ham sandwich to the Browns, and nothing throughout the rest of the league. But at least the Vikings know they need to move on from him. Unlike Ponder who keeps stringing them along with a steady stream of crappy play punctuated by the briefest glimpses of mediocrity.

Joe Webb did great against Philadelphia, which made it to the playoffs that year. He also was on the BRINK of beating a playoff Lions team, and won against (KC??).
The dude will do fine if they keep working on him.
he just needs more practice.
He was awesome when Favre gave him instructions over the headset! Give him a damn headset and let the QB coach guide him, or else just do a running play on every down. They won’t know whether to watch peterson or Webb run.

gtodriver says:Mar 20, 2013 5:22 PM

Carl Gerbschmidt says:

“Not even his old coach wanted him down in Miami. Think about that for a little bit. ”

Carl – I listened to an interview with Wayne Larrivee today – you know the famous Packers play by play announcer.

Wayne had nothing but complimentary things to say about Greg Jennings – as a man and as a player. He acknowledged that Greg had some injury problems and confirmed the Packers had serious interest in bringing Jennings back.

The only reason that Jennings isn’t still a Packer is that the Packers didn’t have the available cap dollars for him and the upcoming huge contract of your QB.

I realize this is heresy in Viking land but I would take Webb over Ponder. Granted, Webb had a terrible playoff game but that’s because he was thrown in at the last minute. At least Webb can put some zip on the ball, Ponder throws like a girl. Webb could easily be the next read option QB in the NFL, right up there with RG3 and Wilson if the Vikings would only give him a chance.

stellarperformance says:Mar 20, 2013 8:02 PM

If Webb was given the consistent starts that Ponder has received, I would be more concerned facing him than Ponder.

pappavike says:Mar 20, 2013 9:49 PM

Webb could play every game in preseason and it still would’nt be enough!! to warrant giving him the back-up job!! He simply can’t read defenses. He has athletic ability! But has no business being a QB in the NFL!! I would see what he looks like as a reciever, but other than that, You trade him for anything you can!! The Vikes should do pretty well in this years draft! They should draft (And maybe not in this order) Nose tackle (a better version of Pat Williams) Linebacker,DB,And Reciver a tall physical speedster who’s got great hands and runs good routes ( Not trouble child ala Percy Harvin) And a Right Guard!!

#1 the game is built around pounder and what he can do period and not joe webb. We wasted a first round draft pick on this qb and if it wasn’t 4 adrian peterson he would look like a fool period. He can’t read def, he underthrows the ball, an can’t run play action, he is a all out joke. we play him only because he was a 1st round draft pick. Now with that being said as my man said up top we would have to run 2. offences …… Never have we built the team around what joe webb can do so how can u judge him

Just like you can’t make a Packers fan anything less than the best, most intelligent fans in the League, you can’t make the Vikings a champion, and you can’t make Vikings fans into people that procreate with people other than family.

Things are the way things are.

purpblooded says:Mar 21, 2013 9:55 PM

Could Webb kick return?

zygizag says:Mar 22, 2013 2:27 AM

The way I look at it WEBB has played like 4 games.

1 really bad one = 25%
2 not so good ones = 50%
1 pretty good one = 25%

I would say that is about the same ratio as Ponder has. Yes Ponder had the 49 game and the last Packer game, but he also had some not so good games and some horrid sub 100 yard passing games.

At the end of preseason the coaches said all Ponder and WEBB needed to get better was more reps. Ponder got 16 games. I would not give up on WEBB just yet.

purpblooded says:Mar 22, 2013 12:26 PM

Ponder’s had more than 2 good games! Why don’t you let him play this year, and see how he does. Remember, because we have AD it’s a run 1st offense.

fancyod says:Mar 25, 2013 4:37 PM

Trade him trade him trade him for future draft picks I would love to see him play just not for Minnesota also this much time they could have train him to be a running back or wr. or even a safety .

vegasvike says:Mar 30, 2013 2:35 PM

Let him return a few kickoffs in pre season and meld him into Special Teams. I mean, they’ve tried the QB thing and failed. Everyone knows he has run/return talent. Put him in coach!